Device for joining cards



Dec. 17, 1929. w ALLEN DEVICE FOR JOINING CARDS Filed Oct. 27, 1926 INVENTUII Wi/fipm X en "MIL/Z1: M

Fatentecl Dec. 17, 1929 WILLIAM Y.-ALLEN, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA DEVICE FOR JOINING CARDS Application filed October 27, 1926. Serial No. 144,432.

It is often convenient and advisable to join together to form a continuous strip, a number of unattached and separate cards. By being joined together, the cards are not easlly lost and individual, cards which form part of a series cannot readily become misplaced and interrupt the continuity of the series. P1cture post cards or photographs, especlally when they all relate to a common subject are of greater value and interest when assoc ated to form a complete group. For readily fihng and storage and for convenience in handling the joined cards should be capable of being easily folded into a simple compact package and as easily unfolded. In the description and claims I use the term cards as referring to individual and separate pieces of material, usually in the form of paper sheets such as photographs or post cards, which it is desired to join together. Most cards are of rectangular sheets of stiff paper or cardboard but I desire to include other types of cards as well.

It is an object ofmy invention to provide a device which will abet the joining of two or more separate cards.

It is another object of my invention to pr0- vide a device which will aid in the joining of a plurality of separate cards in such a manner that they can befolded into a small package and can be unfolded with celerity and but little wear of the joining means.

It is another object of my invention to provide a device which will aid in joining a plurality of separate cards in a uniform and neat manner.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing willbe set forth in the f0l- O lowing description where Ishall outline in full that form of the device for joining cards of my invention, whichI have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. 4 In said drawings I haveshown one form of the device for joining cards embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the device shown in Fig. 1, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device of my invention, the plane of section being indicated by theline 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a series of 0 cards joined with the aid of my device.

My invention contemplates joining by means of gummed tape or comparable material, the adjacent edges of juxtaposed cards, and in its preferred embodiment preferably comprisesa base or table having an indicator for showing the proper relative position of the cards tobe joined and being provided with means for furnishing a moistened supply of gummed tape, together with a cutter for severing the tape preferably in registry with the alined edges of the joined cards.

In the device shown in the drawings, a table or base 6 is provided which is preferably a plane sheet of metal such as brass. The base serves not only as a place for positioning the cards, but also holds the gummed tape and the water for moistening it. At one end of the base is located a reservoir 7 which is made up of metallic strips so bent to form a rectangular box and secured preferably by soldering, to the base 6. The central portion of the top of the reservoir 7 is provided with an aperture 9 through which water can be introduced and through i which a wick 10 projects. Means are provided for supporting a reel of gummed tape or other adhesive strip. One fork of a prong 11 is soldered to the underside of the top of the reservoir and the other fork of the prong extends above and toward the rear of the reservoir. A guide ring 12 is slipped underneath the prong 11 and is retained in place by the resiliency of the prong. The central aperture in the ring 12 is sufficiently large so that there is a slight clearance between the upper face of the prong and the inner side of the ring. A holder for the reel or spool of adhesive material is formed by a U-shaped strip 13 of resilient metal which slips under the prong 11 and is retained in place by pressure of the prong. Spaced a short distance from the ends of the strip 13, are lugs 1 1 which extend into a central aperture in the reel 16 of gummed tape and may be sprung out of place for removal or replacement of the reel by spreading the upper ends ofthe strip 13. The resiliency of the strip ordinarily maintains the lugs 14 in place.

The adhesive strip making up the reel 16 is usually a ribbon of cloth or paper coated on one side with glue or other adhe-" sive material which is effective when moistened with Water. The strip of adhesive material is brought from the reel, is threaded thru the ring 12 and then passes over the wick 10 which extends thru the aperture 9 into the water contained in the reservoir 7. The ring 12 aids in centering and guiding the strip from the reel 16 and the wick 10 is made of sufficient width to insure the wetting of the entire under surface of the adhesive material. It is intended that two cards to. be joined together be positioned on the table 6 and that a section of adhesive material 18, moistened by being passed over the wick 10', bestuck to the two cards thereby securing them together.

Means are provided for aiding in positioning the cards accurately on the table 6. A sheet of material; 19 is placed on the table and bears a suitable indiciu-m for indicating the central axis of the'table 6. The indicator is preferably a guide line- 20' of a predetermined width coinciding with the central plane of the table 6 and the reels 16. The sheet 19, is preferably held in place by means of an inturned end 21. on the base. which, with the forward wall 22 of the reservoir 7, grips it firmly. To afford a smooth and readily cleanable surface upon which the cards may be placed,- a sheet 23 of transparent materialsuch as celluloid or-pyroxylin is preferably placed over the sheet 19 and is also. held in place between the forward wall 22 of the reservoir and the inturned edge; 21.

The two cards, 24 and 25-, which are to be joined, are placed on the sheet 23 with their edges alined against the forward wall 22 of the reservoir.v The cards are manually adjusted until they touch the central line 20 of the table. They are preferably spaced apart the width of the central line so that there is a predetermined distance: between them. They are then held in adjusted position by means of two resilient presser fingers 27 and 28 which may conveniently be formed of acontinuou's piece" of wire bent to a Ui-shape and hinged to the forward wall 22 of the water reservoir. Preferably, one of the fingers 21 is bent slightly out of alinement withthe other of the: fingers 28. If the finger 27 is then pressed downwardly,

the finger 28 first contacts with the card 25 and further downward movement of the finger 27 brings it into contact with the card 24, the resiliency of the wire fingers 27 and 28 insuring a firm contact. WVith the two cards 24: and 25 held securely in adjusted position, the leading edge of the adhesive strip 18 may be brought manually across the wick 10 and over the cards upon the table 6. The leading edge of the strip 18 is placed in exact registry with the far edge of the two alined cards and the moistened strip is pressed into position.

Means are provided for severing the strip of adhesive material attached to the cards from the remainder of the reel. An ear 29 is formed on the forward edge of the reservoir 7' and provides a pivotal point for a casing'or guard 31 having a handle; 32 thereon. The guard encases: a blade 33 providedwi'th a sharp cutting edge. The blade 33 is so mounted that it; coacts with a shearing edge plrovided by ametallicstrip 34, mounted. on t ie 3.4 overhangs the table 6 from: the forward face 22 of the reservoir so that as-the handle 32 is depressed. and the blade 83- severs the adhesive strip from the reel 16,; a-cut is made inexact registry with thealined edges of the cards. The severed strip is pressed firmly against the cards, and a neat and trim job is efiected. Thetwo joined cards cjan then be moved along the table 6 additional cards can be attached to them; In this man'- ner a. series of joined cards can be made. The individual cards of the-series cannot be readily lost or detached and destroy the continuity of the series. Since the cards are slightly spaced; apart on either side of, the central line, the: adhesive strip which joins them acts as a hinge and the cards are united in a very flexible; and durable manner and can readily be folded into a smallpackage without damage.

I claim:

1. A device for joining cards comprising a tableon which said cards are adapted to be positioned, an upstanding wall at one side of said table against which: said cards can be alined, means for supplying" a strip of adhesive material over said wall for join--v in-g said 'cards and a knifemounted on said wall for severing. said stripat said wall.

2. A device for joining cards comprising a table. on: which said cardsare adapted toe-be positioned; a wall at oneside' of said. table against which said cards can be alined, a shearing edge al-ined with said wall. and overhanging; said table, said shearing edgebeing spaced-from said wall: to form a slot; means i for supplying a, strip of: adhesive material across said slot for-joining said cards; and a knife cooperating withsaid. shearing. edge for severing. said strip at'said slot.

3. A device for joining cards comprising a front face 22. of the reservoir.. The strip table on which said cards are adapted to be positioned, an upstanding wall at one side of said table against which said cards can be alined, means for supplying. a strip of adhesive material over said wall for joining said cards, and a manually rotatable knife for severing said strip at said wall.

4. A device for joining cards comprising a table on which said cards are adapted to be positioned, a reservoir on said table having an upstanding wall against which said cards are adapted to be alined, a reel of adhesive tape supported on said table and adapted to pass over said reservoir, a Wick extending into said reservoir for moistening said tape, and a cutter adjacent the forward Wall of said reservoir for severing said tape in alinement with said cards.

5. A device for joining cards comprising a table on which said cards are adapted to be positioned, an indicium on said table for positioning said cards, means for supplying a moistened strip of adhesive material for joining said cards, and means for severing said strip in registry with the ends of said cards.

6. A device for joining cards comprising a table on which said cards are adapted to be positioned, an indicium including a line of predetermined width on said table for positioning said cards, means for supplying a strip of adhesive material to said cards in the direction of said line, and a cutter for severing said strip in registry with the edge of said cards and normal to said direction.

7. A device for joining cards comprising a table on which said cards are adapt-ed to be stationarily disposed, a holder fixed on said table, a reel of adhesive material for joining said cards journalled in said holder, and a knife pivoted with respect to said table for severing said adhesive material.

8. A device for joining cards comprising a table on which said cards are adapted to be placed in juxtaposition, and a plurality of fingers connected to said table for successive resilient contact with cards thereon, the movement of one of said fingers toward said table serving to urge the other finger resiliently toward said table.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM Y. ALLEN. 

